Simon Cowell confirms Cheryl Cole’s X Factor return

Simon Cowell has confirmed that
Cheryl Cole will be returning to The X Factor as
Gary Barlow’s sidekick at the judges’ houses stage of the competition.

Cheryl Cole is reportedly set to make an X Factor comeback at the judges’ houses, following top secret plans made by Gary Barlow (Picture: Xposurephotos.com)

The 52-year-old took to his Twitter page to welcome her back to the ITV1 talent show.

‘Welcome back Cheryl. X,’ he told his millions of followers.

According to reports, the Girls Aloud singer will join Barlow at a stately home in Northants to help choose his finalists – in a deal which was apparently made behind Simon Cowell ‘s back initially.

Take That star Gary, 41, reportedly hatched his plan to get Cheryl back after they performed together at the Diamond Jubilee concert in June and according to a source, ‘she loved the mischief of it’.

Gary even fooled show bosses into believing his Take That bandmate Robbie Williams would be joining him at the judges’ houses.

‘Only Gary’s intimate inner circle know,’ a source told The Sun.

‘He hasn’t even discussed it with Simon or ITV bosses. It’s been seriously top secret stuff.

‘They’re all under the impression it’s going to be Robbie. No-one even noticed the dates for the recording clashed with Robbie’s solo tour.’

Gary Barlow managed to convince show bosses that he would be joined by Robbie Williams (Picture: PA)

The insider added the Cole ‘loved the mischief’ of the secret plotting.

The 29-year-old originally quit the panel for a role on The X Factor USA, but was dropped as a judge after just four days of filming and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger .

She revealed on the Jonathan Ross Show last night that she does still speak to Simon Cowell but admitted they were no longer friends.

‘I do talk to him every now and again,’ Cole said. ‘We’re frenemies.’

Barlow, who is believed to be mentoring the over-28s category this year, is remaining in the UK for the judges’ houses stage of the show, in order to be near his family following the tragic stillbirth of his daughter Poppy last month.

Louis Walsh, who is reportedly mentoring the groups, is choosing his finalists in Las Vegas with help from another former judge, Sharon Osbourne.

Meanwhile newcomer Nicole Scherzinger, who reportedly has the boys category, has been joined in Dubai by rapper Ne-yo to choose her acts, while Tulisa will select her finalists – said to be the girls – in St Lucia, with help from Tinie Tempah.